Counting and marking machine



Dec. 1 9, 1944. 1 1 MATTHEWS COUNTING AND MARKING MACHINE Filedl Jan. 3. 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l w f @@.M

#W5/V TOR Dec. 19, 1944. L. L.A MATTHEWS GOUNTING AND MARKING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Jan. 3

l... L. MATTHEWS 2,365,645

COUNTING AND MARKING MACINE Filed Jan. 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec. 19, 1944.

Dec. 19, 1944.

L. L. MATTHEWS COUNTING AND MARKING MACHINE Filed Javn. 3, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fragili/r vm;

Decn 19, 1944. L, L, MA1-mms 2,365,645

COUNTING AND MARKNG MACHINE Filed Jan. v5"1'941 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 2,365,645 'coUNTING AND MAnKmG MACHINE Louis Landaf! Matthews, Westerly, R. to Maxson Automatic Machinery I., assignor Company,

Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application January 3, 1941, Serial No. 373,010

88 Claims. (Cl. 93-93) The present invention relates to counting and marking machines, and more particularly to machines for counting and marking sheet material.

Very satisfactory machines have been produced' heretofore for counting the number of sheets of paper or the like that are delivered by a sheetdelivery machine into a lay-boy or other magazine, and for marking or separating the sheets so delivered into bundles or reams, each containing a predetermined number of the sheets. Letters Patent 1,611,476 and 1,611,762, issued December 21, 1926, to Charles B. Maxson, are illustrative of such machines. These machines have involved generally, for effecting the counting, the use of ratchet-and-pawl mechanisms operable intermittently each time that a sheet, or a bundle of sheets, is counted, Such intermittent starting and stopping of the machine, however, imposes a wear and tear upon the ratchets, pawls and other parts of the machine that, though otherwise unobjectionable, becomes quite serious at high speeds.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved countingand-marking machine that shall be better adapted for use at high speeds.

With this end in view, a feature of the invention contemplates a machine that shall operate continuously, instead of intermittently.

Machines of the above-described character vmay handle either single sheets or bundles, each containing a plurality of the sheets. Care must be taken, in the latter case, to ensure the full count of the reams. As explained in the said Letters Patent 1,611,762, no such precaution is necessary where the sheets are fed in multiples that are exactly divisible into the number of sheets that constitute a ream. With a 50G-sheet ream, for example, the multiples may be 1, 2, 4,

or 10. Difiiculty is encountered, however, where the multiples are not so exactly divisible. The number 3, for example, as is also explained in the said Letters Patent 1,611,762, since it is not a multiple of 500, would yield bundles or reams containing, successively, 501, 501 and 498 sheets. The term ream will be employed herein to denote any desired predetermined number of sheets stacked or grouped as hereinafter described.

The numbers 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 18 are, however, divisible into 504. Assuming that both 500-sheet and 504-sheet reams are provided for, therefore, it is possible to count by all multiples up to 18, except the multiples 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17. The multiples 11, 13, 15, 16 and 17 are so seldom used, in practice, that they may be disregarded;

particularly since the numbers of sheets in the reams when using the multiple 11, for example, would very seldom fall below 500, the exact numbers contained in the successive reams being 506, 506, 506, 506, 495, 506, 506, 506, 506 and 494.

It is, therefore, a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved machine of the above-described character that shall be adapted to count and mark bundles of sheets in multiples up to and including any desired number, which may be 18.

According to a feature of the present invention, this result may be attained by means of a pocket of continuously operating cams. There is no mechanical limitation upon the number of sheets that may be handled simultaneously with this invention, whether 18 or any other number, because as many cams may be employed as desired.

Other and further objects will be explained hereinafter and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will now be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section upon the line I I of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, of a machine embodying the present invention for cutting paper into sheets and feeding and stacking the Sheets, parts being broken away for purposes of better illustration; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a detail, taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, looking yin the direction of the arrows, illustrating also an attachment shown in Figs, 3 and 1l, but lacking in other gures; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken upon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but with parts occupying different positions; Fig. 5 is a section taken upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 6 or Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away, for clearness, illustrating a clutch arrangement for disconnecting the counter when not in use; Fig. 6 is a section taken upon the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 or Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section upon the'line 3 3-of Fig. l, looking in the direction opposite to that of the arrows, and illustrating a number-selecting mechanism; Fig. 8 is a section of the intermittently operating tagfeeding device and associated parts, shown enlarged with respect to Fig. 1, the section being taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan, with parts broken away, and upon`a larger scale, partly in section upon the line 9 9 of Fig. 1, looking downward. in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation of a detail, showing a mechanism for controlling the time for feeding a marking strip and severing it into a tag: Fig. 11 is a detail section corresponding to Fig. 3, but upon a larger scale; Fig. 12 is a section taken upon the line |2|2 of Fig, 9 or Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 13 is an exploded perspective of parts of the apparatus shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 12, certain of the parts being shown in section for clearness.

For illustrative purposes, the invention is shown applied to a paper-sheet-cutting-andfeeding machine of well-known type, such as is commonly employed in paper mills to sever the rolls 2 of rpaper that are produced in the papermaking machines, into individual sheets, and to feed and stack the severed sheets into lay-boys 4 For simplicity of illustration, a single lay-boy 4 alone is illustrated herein. Any desired, convenient number of rolls 2 of paper may be operated upon simultaneously in the same machine. Four such rolls are illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. i. Feed rolls advance the webs 2 of paper from the rolls 2 toa rotary cutter I0 by which, in cooperation with a stationary cutter, the strips are severed, in well-known manner, into sheets of the' desired length.

The cutter I8 is shown mounted on a shaft I1. If only a single roll 2 is employed, but one sheet will be produced from the web 2 at each cut. If a plurality of rolls 2 are employed, a bundle of superposed sheets will be produced at each operation of the cutter, the number of sheets in the bundle varying with the number of supenposed webs 3 from the rolls 2. For generality of expression, the term superposed" will be employed to denote any number of webs, including unity, and the corresponding number of sheets simultaneously cut therefrom by the cutter, and the term bundle" of sheets will be employed to include a single sheet so cut by the cutter I4.

After they have been cut from the webs, the sheets are advanced by tapes l0 and 20 into the lay-boy 4, which is automatically lowered from time to time to maintain approximately uniform the level of the sheets that are stacked therein. As they are delivered into the lay-boy4, the sheets are automatically counted; and thin, paper tags 24, shown in Fig. 1, are automatically inserted between adjacent, predetermined sheets |06 and |04 at the completion of each count to separate or mark the bundles or reams of sheets so delivered and counted, and to indicate, by means of the tags 24, the completion of the counting of these reams. In Fig. l, the last sheet of a completed ream is shown at |00 and the first sheet of the next ream at |04.

The tag-inserting mechanism comprises feed rolls 26 and 21, shown in Figs. 1 and 8 and less clearly in Fig. 9. These automatically advance intermittently, by positively pulling between them through a curved guide 24, and between a movable knife 20 and a stationary knife 22, a paper strip 34 as it is intermittently unwound from a reel 20. The end 22 of the paper strip is thus intermittently advanced, at the proper time, and becomes inserted between the adjacent sheets |04 and |00, Fig. 1, of the stack. After this end 24 becomes automatically severed by the knives 20 and 22, it constitutes a tag 24. The feed roll 28 is idly mounted upon a lever 40, that is pivoted at one end 4|, and that is rpressed upward about the pivot by a spring 42 (essentially as described in, and illustrated more particularly in Fig. 17 of. the said Letters Patent 1,011,702) to cause the feed roll 24 to maintain the paper strip 44 tightly in engagement with the feed roll 21. The feed rolls 24 and 21 are provided with meshing gears |4| and |42. To advance the strip 24. therefore, it is necessary to rotate intermittently the feed roll 24 only, the feed roll 21 being positively driven by its gear |22 from the gear |2| of the feed roll 24.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 1, the feed rolls 24 and 21 are situated at the rear end of the guide 20, at a point iust to the rear of and just below the upper sheets of the stack of sheets in the lay-boy, and the knife 42 is situated at the other end. A normally stationary shaft 44, situated to the rear oi the guide 24, is provided with a gear |24, which drives the gear |4| and, therefore, the feed rolls 24 and 21, through a train of gearing |22. 'I'he train of gearing |22 is rendered necessary by the spacing between the gear |24 on the shaft 44 and the gear |3| on the feed roll 24. As shown by dotted lines in Fig. 8, and in full lines in Fig. 1'1 of the said Patent 1,611,762, a lever 2l, pivoted at 22, by its own weight presses the strip 44 against a seat 30 in the lever 40, Just to the rear of the feed rolls 24 and 21, the better to guide the strip. At the end of a cycle of operation of a countersay, after a ream has been delivered and counted, the normally stationary shaft 44 is rotated for a brief period by continuously rotating pawls 44, shown more particularly in Figs. 10, 12 and 13. The end 28 of the strip 24 is thereupon rapidly fed from the rear of the stack, in a direction at a substantial angle to the horizontal direction of feed of the sheets, into the path of feed of the next-following sheets, which constitutes the first sheet |04 of they next ream.

The shaft 44 is intermittently rotated, to effect this rapid feeding of the strip 24, only when one of the pawls 44 engages a lug 44 that is fixed to the shaft 44, substantially as illustrated and described more fully in the said Letters Patent 1,611,762, and also in Letters Patent 1,862,- '797, to Matthews, issued June 14, 1932,.where, however, only a single pawl 40 is shown and described, mounted somewhat differently. The pawls 40, as here shown, are pivotally mounted at 52 upon a collar or disc 44 that is fixed to a gear 43 that is rotatably mounted loosely about the shaft 44, so as to rotate freely about the shaft 44, except when one of the pawls 44 engages the lug 40. As will hereinafter more fully appear, the shaft 44 is so driven that its rotation shall be a measure of the number of sheets that are cut by the knife |4 and delivered into the lay-boy 4. The exact measure, as will be hereinafter explained, is determined by the fact that the shaft 0l, from which the gear 42 is driven by a chain of gearing |24 interposed between the gear 42 and a gear |24 on the shaft 44, rotates once to every four revolutions of the cutter shaft |1. The relation vbetween the number of revolutions of the knife |4 and the rotation of the gear 42 may be adjusted by the mechanism described in the said Matthews Letters Patent and illustrated more particularly in Figs. 12 and 13 thereof.

AUnder normal conditions, the collar 44, that carries the pawls 44, is continuously rotated loosely in a circular path about the axis of the shaft 44, from the shaft |1 of the cutter I4, as hereinafter to be described, or in any other desired manner, so long as a pawl 44 does not engage the lug 48. When a pawl 46 does engage the lug 48, however, it will obviously cause the shaft 44 to rotate also. As before explained, the rotation thus imparted to the shaft 44 will then cause the feed rolls 26 and 21 to feed the end 38 of the strip 84 between the said two adjacent sheetsl |04 and |06 of the stack.

The feeding of the strip 34 is, therefore, controlled by the continuously rotating pawls 48, when they clutch the continuously rotating collar 54 to the normally stationary shaft 44. Rotation of the shaft 44 in the wrong direction may be prevented in any desired way.

The pawls 46 are normally prevented from engaging the lug 48 by a gate 10 that is similar to the gate 10 of the said Letters Patent 1,611,762 and 1,862,797. The gate 10 is provided upon a collar or disc 12 that, as shown more particularly in Figs. 9, 10, 12 and 13, is loosely mounted, inside the collar 54, to rotate loosely about the shaft 44. In the position normally occupied by the collar 12, the gate 10 overlies or covers the lug 48, as shown in Fig. 10, in the path of rotation of the pawls 46. overlies the lug 48, the continuously rotating pawls 46 can not, therefore, engage the lug 48, but must ride idlly over the gate 10. Upon the gate becoming displaced from the position of Fig. l to that of Fig. 6 of the said Letters Patent 1,862,797, however, a pawl 46, during its next journal around the shaft 44, will be pressed into contact with the lug 48 by a spring 16. As the collar 54 continues to rotate, this pawl 46 will new engage the lug 48. The lug 48, being secured to the shaft 44, will cause thefeed rolls26 and 2l' to advance the end 38 of the strip 34, as above described.

Upon reaching the wall 18 of the gate 10, the` said pawl 46 will ride up along this wall 18 (as surning the gate to be held against movement at this time) and out of contact with the-lug 46, as shown in Fig. 7 of the said Letters Patent 1,862,797, whereupon the shaft 44 will cease rotating, and the strip 34 will be no longer advanced. The lug 48 will thus be left behind the gate 10. continuously idle rotation as before. The revolution of the shaft 44 is completed later, as is also described in the said Letters Patent 1,862,797, to effect the actuation of the movable knife 30.

As more fully described in the said Matthews Letters Patent 1,862,797, the collar or disc 12, that carries the gate 10, though loosely mounted upon the shaft 44, binds frictionally at 85 against. the inside of the continuously rotating collar 54. Owing to this frictional binding action, there would be a tendency for the disc ,12 to be carried around with the shaft 44. This, however, is normally prevented by a lug 80 that is mounted upon the disc 12 and that is normally engaged by a roller pin 82, shown more particularly in Figs. 9, 10 and 13, provided at one end of a lever 84, that is intermediately pivoted at 86. So long as the lever 84 occupies its normal, illustrated position, therefore, with the pin 82 maintained in engagement with the lug 80, the disc 12 is held from rotating with the shaft `44.

A spring I2 tends to actuate the lever 84, about its pivot 86, out of its illustrated position, to actuate the pin 82 out of engagement with the lug 80, thereby to permit the disc 12 to rotate with the shaft 44. This, however, is normally prevented by the free end 2| of a lever |9 engaging the other end 22 of the lever 84. The lever 84 becomes tripped by the spring I2, to re- So long as the gate 10' The pawls 46 will then resume their shaft 44, until a lug |80 (shown more particularly'in Figs. l0 and 13) hits the pin 82. It is during this three-quarters turn of the disc 12 with the collar 54 that the tag-inserting mechanism is set into operation. The remaining onev quarter turn will be accounted for hereinafter.

The counters illustrated in the said Letters Patent employed ratchet-and-pawl mechanisms, such as the ratchet and the pawl |62 illustrated in Figs. 15 and 18- of Letters Patent 1,611,476. The pawl |62 was geared to start operating from the shaft of the rotating cutter I6, and it was periodically stopped by friction. At speeds of from 100 to 250 knife cutsper minute, however, the ratchet |60 will not always start and stop with accuracy.

In accordance with the present invention, no ratchets or pawls are employed in the counters, and no reliance is placed upon friction. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of cams may be driven from the cutter I6 by chain-and-gearing connections, controlling the operation of a two-arm or bell-crank lever, one of the arms of which, shown at I4, may be termed the selecting lever, and the other arm of which is constituted of the lever I9.

The reams usually contain 480 or 500 sheets. The counters may be so adjusted, to count by units or multiples, corresponding to the number of rolls 2, that the paper tag 24 shall always be inserted between successive reams, irrespective of how many sheets are delivered into the lay-boy 4 corresponding to each cut of the knife |6 or other operation. The selecting lever I4 provides a flexible means for changing the count, and a changing-gear ratio provides a means for marking at the end of various counts.

A ten-tooth sprocket wheel 55, shown mounted on the shaft I1 of the rotary cutter I6, is connected by a sprocket chain 59 to a twenty-tooth sprocket wheel 6| on a shaft 62. The knife shaft |1 thus drives the twenty-tooth sprocket wheel 6| through the sprocket chain 59. The sprocket wheel 6| is connected by a clutch, shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6, to a ten-tooth sprocket wheel 1|. A sprocket chain 58 is mounted over the sprocket wheel 1| and a twenty-tooth sprocket wheel 56 upon the shaft 65. 'I'he shaft 65, therefore, makes one complete revolution to every four revolutions of the cut ter shaft |1. It is from this shaft 65, through the gear |35 and the train of gearing |34 that, as before explained, the gear 43 is continuously rotated.

A ten-tooth gear 66 on the shaft 65 meshes with a -tooth gear 61 on a shaft 68. The shaft 68, and the gear 61 mounted thereon, therefore, make one complete revolution corresponding to every forty revolutions of the cutter shaft.

Rotatable with the shaft 68 are two ten-teeth gears |69 and |1I. Each of these gears |69 and |1I, therefore, rotates through an angle corresponding to one of its teeth for every four revolutions of the cutter shaft.

Near the opposite ends of a shaft 49 there are mounted two counting gears 5| and 53, the former meshing with the gear |69, and the latter with the gear |1|. These gears 53 and 5|, too, therefore, each rotates through an angle corresponding to one of its teeth for every four revolutions of the cutter shaft.

The gear 42 is provided with 125 teeth. At the end of a complete revolution thereof, therefore, the cutter shaft I1 will have made 125x4=500 revolutions. The gear I4 will make one complete revolution, therefore, when a ream of 500 sheets has been delivered into the lay-boy 4. The gear 4I is provided with 126 teeth. It will thus make one complete revolution when a ream of 504 sheets has been delivered into the lay-boy 4.

The number multiples-1, 2, 4, and 10, which divide evenly into 500, therefore, may be controlled from the gear 43 having 125 teeth; and the number multiples 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 18 from the gear II, having 126`teeth.

Assuming that it is desired to count and mark or tag 500-sheet reams, for example, all that is necessary is to fix to the 125-tooth gear l2 a cam 41 having four drop-off points 44, corresponding to the lfour rolls 2. Provision is made to operate the tag-inserting device once for each time that one of the drop-off points 4l operates `the selecting lever I4, the free end II of one arm of which is maintained always in engagement, for this purpose, with the periphery of the cam 41.

Different cams will be provided, all rigidly fixed to the 125-tooth gear 53 by means of a pin 24 that holds the cams and the gear Il upon a common bushing or hollow shaft 2l that is mounted over and fixed to the shaft 44, so as to rotate therewith. A different cam corresponds to each of the multiple numbers 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10. The cam I will have only a single drop-off point 45, and will be used when a single web 3 is led to the cutter I8, from only a single roll 2. The cam l, having two drop-orf points 44, will be employed when webs 4 from two rolls 2 of paper are led to the cutter I8. A cam 4, having five dropoff points, will be employed when there are five rolls 2 of paper, and a cam 1, having ten dropoff points when there are ten rolls 2 of paper. For convenience, only the cam 41, having four drop-off points 4l, is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Regardless of the number of rolls 2 of paper, therefore, the shaft 48 always rotates very slowly, once corresponding to every 500 cuts of the cutter IB. The full-ream count is provided for by the number of drop-off points on the various cams, corresponding to the number of rolls 2 of paper.

In the case of the cam I. with only a single drop-olf point, there is a complete 500 to 1 reduction; for, as before explained, the cutter I4 rotates 500 times to one complete revolution oi' the gear B3. The same 500 to 1 reduction occurs, however, with the cams 5, 41, 4 and 1. Though the cam 5, because of its two drop-off points, for example, apparently provides a 250 to 1 reduction, the cam 41 a 125 to 1 reduction, the cam 4 a 100 to 1 reduction and the cam 1 a 50 to 1 `reduction, the 500 to 1 reduction is provided for in all cases, by the number of multiple drop-cf! points disposed along the circumference of the corresponding cam. The number of webs 2 simultaneously supplied to the cutter Ily by the rolls 2 is thus compensated for by the fact that the cams are al1 rotated once to each revolution of the shaft' 49.

It is now in order to describe more fully the two-arm lever I4, I9. The selecting lever I4 is integral with a collar 4 that is provided with an opening 9 of square cross section, by means of which it may be slidsbly disposed over a similarly shaped shaft Il that is mounted to rock in bearings IO. Ihe lever I4 is fixed at one end to this shaft Il. Through the lever I4, I4, which is rocked as a unit with the shaft Il in its bearings, therefore, the position of the selecting lever I4 on this shaft Il may be adjusted by sliding the selecting lever I4 along the shaft Il, without any turning movement, by means of a handle 44. The selecting lever I4 may thus become positioned under, so as to cooperate with, that particular cam the number of drop-0H points of which corresponds to the number of rolls 2 of paper. As illustrated, it is positioned under the cam 41. having the four drop-oi! points 44, corresponding to the four rolls 2 of paper. The adjustment of the selecting lever I4 may be effected at any time, even during the operation of the machine.

During the rotation of thecam 41, the free end II of the selecting lever I4 is caused by the spring I2, acting through the end 22 of the lever 44 engaging the end 2i of the lever I4, to engage its periphery, as illustrated in Fig. l. When one of the four drop-off points 4I reaches the free end II of thelever I4, the spring I2 becomes free to pivot the lever 44 clock-wise, as viewed in Fig. 1, causing its end 22, through its engagement with the end 2I of the lever I4, to actuate the bellcrank lever Il, I4 counter-clockwise about the shaft I! in its bearings I3. This actuation of the lever 44 about its pivot 44 eii'ects disengagement of the pin 42 from the lug 40. The continuously rotating gear 42 isvthen permitted to effect temporary actuation of the shaft 44, setting into operation the tag-inserting mechanism, as before described. v

As before explained, the pin l2 becomes en gaged by the lug |44 after releasing the lug 44. The pin 42 and the lug I" remain in such engagement, with the wall 1l guiding the pawls 44 over the lug 44, until several further sheets have been delivered into the lay-boy 4 on wp of the sheet |44 resting on the end 44 of the strip 44. By that time, one of the drop-off points 4l has engaged the end II of the lever I4 to return it to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The lever 44 becomes thereupon returned to its normal, illustrated position, permitting the shaft 44 to become actuated through the remaining one-quarter revolution to its normal position.

Using thecam 41, the lever I4 will in this manner be moved upward by the spring I2, at the four drop-off points 4l, once corresponding to each 125 cuts of the knife I4, thus causing the tag-inserting mechanism to operate at the end of the feeding of l25 4=500 sheets into the lay-boy 4. The counting means is thus controlled to mark or indicate the completion of the counting of the ream. When the lever I4 is positioned under the cam I, the tag-inserting mechanism will be operated once to every 500 cuts of the knifev I4. When the lever I4 is positioned under the cam l, the tag-inserting mechanism will operate once corresponding to each 250 cuts of the knife I4; but as, at such time, two paper rolls 2 will simultaneously supply their webs I to the knife, this will again take place at the end of the feeding of a ream of 500 sheets into the lay-boy 4. Similarly, when the lever I4 is positioned under the cam 4, corresponding to five paper rolls 2. the tag-inserting mechanism will operate once for every cuts of the knife I4; and when the lever I4 is positioned under the cam 1, corresponding to ten rolls 2 ,of paper,

the tag-inserting mechanism will operate once corresponding to every 50 cuts of the knife 6. In all these cases, the counting means is controlled by the selecting lever |4 to count by numbers that are respectively divisible in 500, and to mark the completion of the counting of the 500-sheet ream.

So much for the gear wheel 53 and the cams keyed thereto by the key 25. The gear wheel 5|, having 126 teeth, is similarly shown keyed at 29, together with eight cams 13, 14, 15, 11, 19, 83, 81 and 9|, to a bushing or hollow shaft 2|1 that, unlike the bushing or shaft 25, is rotatably mounted loosely about the shaft 49, so as to prevent jamming between the teeth of the gears 5| and 53. These cams respectively have 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 18 drop-off points, all divisible into 504.

If the lever I4 be positioned under the cam 14 for example, provided with six drop-ofi points, it will be actuated once to every 504 divided by 6, or 84, cuts bythe cutter I6; but as each cut produces six sheets from six rolls 2, the total number of sheets delivered into the layboy before the tag-inserting mechanism is set into operation by the lever I4 will be 504. The reduction, in this case, is not 500 to 1, but 504 to l.

When only a single roll 2 is employed, supplythe positions of the various cams. The selecting lever |4 may be maintained in adjusted position by means of a pin |36 that may enter any of a plurality of openings |31 in the plate I I8, each just above the number which corresponds to the number of drop-off points on the particular cam, l

-could be mounted in the housing 91, like the gears 5| and 53, but having 128 teeth, so as to collect and count reams of 512 sheets. Such third gear maybe keyed to a bushing or hollow shaft like the bushing 2|1, loosely mounted about the shaft 49. The cam fixed to such gear would drop-olf point 45, the l25-tooth gear 53 will make one complete revolution for each 500-sheet ream counted. Each tooth of the 125-tooth gear 53 will then represent, or correspond to, a unit of four sheets in the desired 500-sheet-ream count. When two such rolls 2 are employed, supplying two webs 3 to the cutter I6, in cooperation with the cam 5, having two drop-olf points 45, the 125-tooth gear 53 will make only a one-half revolution between ,the drop-off points 45, during which time a full 500-sheet ream will have been counted. Each tooth of the 125`tooth-gear 53 will then represent, or correspond to, a 'unit of eight sheets in the.5004sheetream count. When four rolls 2 are employed, as illustrated, in cooperation with the cam 41 having four dropoif points 45, the 125-tooth gear 53 will make only a one-fourth revolution between successive drop-off points 45, during which a ream of 500 sheets will have been counted. In this case, each tooth of the 125-tooth gear 53 will represent, or correspond to, sixteen sheets in the 500- sheet-ream count.

Similar considerations apply to the 126-tooth gear 5|. Here, the counting means is controlled by the selecting lever I4 to count by numbers that are respectively divisible in 504, and to mark the completion of the counting of the 504sheet ream. Whether the lever I4 be selectively connected to one of the cams that rotate with the counting gear 5| or to one of the cams that rotate with the counting gear 53, it will in either case connect to the particular cam the marking or indicating means under the control of the levers I9 and 84.

The gears 53 and 5I and their attached cams are supported in a housing 91 in which the shafts 49, 68 and 65 are journaled. The number corresponding to the number of drop-off points on each cam is indicated on a plate 8, shown fastened to the counter housing 91 under, and to one side of, the cams. These numbers, as appears from Fig. '7, are not disposed in numerical sequence; they are arranged to correspond to have sixteen drop-olf points, corresponding to sixteen rolls 2 of paper. If desired, another such cam might have thirty two drop-off points, and so on.

Many cases occur in practice, on the other hand, where it is not necessary to provide full counts of the reams. This may occur, for example, on cheap grades of paper, the purchaser of which will not belparticular as to whether his rea-m is a few sheets short of the standard number. In such case, all the cams may be secured to a single gear, such as the gear 53 having 125 teeth. The present invention provides for attaining this result also, as well as for counting and marking reams or bundles containing other than 500 and 504 sheets.

The shaft 68 is provided with a key 31 that may be longitudinally slid back and forth by means of a handle 92. 'Ihe key 31 is provided with two high portions 93 and 95 that may be disposed in key-ways in the gears |69 and I1I, respectively, when the key 31 occupies the position illustrated in Fig. 4 and in full lines in Fig. 11, with the handwheel 9 2 occupying its extreme right-hand position. 'Ihe gears |69 and |1I become thus keyed to the shaft 68 to drive the respective gear Wheels 53 and 5|, as before described. When the handwheel 92 is pushed to its extreme left-hand position, however, illustrated in Fig. 3, and by dotted lines in Fig. 11, the high portions93 and 95 of the key 31 become slid out of the key-ways in the gears |69 and 1|, releasing these gears 53 and 5| from their gea-rs |69Y and |1I. The gears |69 and |1|, on the shaft 68, become then enabled to rotate without rotating the shaft 49, on which are mounted the gear wheels 53 and 5|. It becomes then possible to rotate the shaft 49 from the shaft 68 by other mechanism, now to be described. l

When the handwheel 92 is pushed to its lefthand position, shown in Fig. 3, and by dotted lines in Fig. l1, the key end 93 0f the key 31 is caused to project beyond the frame of the housing 91. A gear |01 may then be fixed to the shaft 68 by mounting it upon this projecting end 93 of the key 31. One end of the shaft 49 is provided with a key-Way By rotating the shaft 49, through the medium of a handle |05, disposed at its other end, the key-way |0| may be caused to coincide with an interiorly disposed key-way |03 of the bushing or hollow shaft 2|1. A gear |98 and the bushing 2|1 may then be fixed to the shaft 49 by means of a key |89 iitting in the key-way |03 and in the alined key-way |0| in the shaft 49. The gear |08 is intended to mesh with a gear |61 that is fixed to the shaft 68, but this can not be effected directly owing to the difference in gear centers between the shafts 88 and 48. As illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 1l, therefore, intermeshing gears and are interposed, the former meshing with the gear |01 and the latter with the gear |08. As the gears |01 and |08 are mounted upon the portions of the shafts 88 and 40, respectively, that extend beyond the housing 101, they may be enclosed between the housing 01 and a supplementary detachable housing ||0. The gears |01, |08, and ||8 and the supplementary housing ||0 are omitted from Figs. 4 and '7 to indicate that they may or may not be used, as desired.

When the gears |88 and I`||, therefore, are disengaged from the gears 00 and 8|, respectively, all the cams are fixed by the key |00 to rotate in unison with the gear |08, which is driven from' the gear |01. It is then possibleto obtain any count desired, and not necessarily a count of 500 or 504.

If a 480 count, for example, is desired, this may be attained by providing the gear |01 with ten teeth and the gear |08 with 120 teeth. As the shaft 88, upon which the gear |01 is mounted, rotates once to every forty revolutions of the cutter I8, as before explained, the gear |00 will rotate through an angle corresponding to ten of its teeth corresponding to every forty revolutions of the cutter I8. During a complete revolution of the gear |08, therefore, the cutter I8 will rotate 12x40 or 480 times. A ream of 480 sheets wm thus be delivered into the 1ay-boy 4 at the end of a complete revolution of the gear wheel |08.

If the lever |4 is positioned under the cam I which, as before described, is provided with a single drop-off point 45, it will then operate the tag-inserting mechanism once during each revolution of the gear wheel |08, to count a ream of 480 sheets. If the lever I4 is positioned under the cam 41, the tag-inserting mechanism will operate four times during each revolution of the gear wheel |08, each time to count a ream of 480 sheets. The other cams, too, will operate as before described, each time to count and mark or tag s. ream of 480 sheets.

--gX 40= 100 times A ream of 100 sheets would thus be delivered into th lay-boy 4 at the end of a complete revolution of the gear wheel |08.

As another example, .for a 24 count, the gear |01 may have 40 teeth and the gear |08, 24 teeth;

In all cases, the number of teeth in the gear |08, divided by the number of teeth in the gear |01, multiplied by 40, the number of operations of the cutter I8 corresponding to one rotation of the shaft 88 of the gear |01, equals the number of sheets in the ream.

r shaft 82.

assaut It will be understood that, to each different set of gear wheels |01 and |00, different intermediately positioned gears and ||0 must be employed, to provide for suitable drive between the driving gear |01 and the driven counting gear |08.

Full counts can not, of course. always be attained with the aid of the gears |01 and |00, because the number 480, for example, may not always be divisible by the number of paper rolls 2.

On the other hand, sub-multiple counts of 500 and 504 sheets may be obtained without using the gears |01 and |00. Thus, 100 sheets may be delivered into the lay-boy 4, using but a single roll 2, by positioning the selecting lever I4 under the cam 0, having nve drop-ofi'. points, and terminating the count when the lever I4 reaches the first drop-oi! point. With ten rolls 2, 1000 sheets could be delivered in this manner. A delivery of 250 sheets maysimilarly be obtained with the aid of the cam 8, having two drop-off points. Many different numbers of sheets can be assured of delivery in the lay-boy in this manner, mere- Lv by balancing the number of rolls 2 against the number of drop-of! points on one of the cams.

It is sometimes desirable, on the other hand, to deliver sheets into the lay-boy 4 without counting or marking them at all. It is then desirable to disconnect the counters. One method of effecting this result is t0 provide an additional cam, without any drop-off parts, and to adjust the selecting lever I4 thereunder while the machine is running. Another method is illustrated more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6.

The sprocket wheel 8| may be mounted loosely on the shaft 02, and it may be provided witha pin ||8 for engaging either of two lugs |2| mounted upon a. collar |00 that is fixed upon the The engagement of one or the other lug |2| by the pin ||0 then ensures that rotation of the shaft 82 shall be effected from the sprocket wheel 8| through the collarl00 that is fixed to the shaft 02. The purpose oi the two lugs |2| on the collar |08 is to compensate for the fact that there is a two-to-one reduction between the shaft of the cutter I8 and the shaft 02, and it is desirable to have a one-to-one correspondence between the cutter rotations and the operation about to be described.

The collar |00 is maintained in engagement with the sprocket wheel 0| by a spring |22, coiled about the shaft 02. A forked lever |24, pivoted at |20, spans a peripheral groove |20 in the collar |00. The lever |24 is provided with oppositely disposed pins |21 mounted freely in the peripheral groove |28 of the collar |00. The collar |00 may be pulled toward the leit, as viewed in Fig. 6, by a cord |20, fastened to an eye |00 on the lever |24,

to actuate the collar |08 clear of the pin III, into engagement with a stop |0I. When the collar |00 is thus pulled to one side, the sprocket wheel 8| will rotate loosely about the shaft 02, so that the shaft 02 will no longer be actuated. To throw the counter out of action, therefore, all that is necessary is to pull upon the cord |20, and to hold it pulled. As many counts may thus be omitted as desired. To miss a single count, the cord |20 may be given one quick jerk, for example, and let go again.

The invention is not, of course, limited to the tanins of sheets in the lay-boy 4. It is equally applicable to other devices for indicating when the cutter I8 or other means for operating upon the web or webs 0 has cut or otherwise operated upon a predetermined quantity of the sheet material of 2,885,645 the web or webs. Such other operating means may, for example, be the tapes I8 and 20 for feedlng the sheets, as these tapes may be driven from the same mechanism that controls the operation oi the cutter I6, or the tapes may be driven directly from the cutter I6. For every four operations of the-operating means, such as the cutter I8, which number four is equal to the number of sheets in a 50G-sheet ream divided by the number of teeth of the 125-tooth gear 53, the gear 53 is rotated through an angle corresponding to one tooth of this gear; vand corresponding to every operation of a tooth of this gear a counting operation is eiiected. Similarly for the 126-tooth gear l, the number four is also equal tov the number of sheets in a S04-sheet ream divided by 126.` A gear having 12d teeth would similarly cover the case of i550-sheet reame.

Further modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art, and all such are considered to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined. in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

i. A machine of the class described having, in combination,` two rotatable gears respectively having 125 and 12'6 teeth, means for rotating the gears, counting means for electing a count coxum responding to each tooth of either gear, and means for selectively connecting the counting means to the gears.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two rotatable counting gears respectively having 125 and 126 teeth, means for rotating the gears, means for indicating the comple tion of a count effected by either gear, a cam rotatable with the 125-tooth gear having a number of drop-oil points that is divisible in 500, a cam rotatable with the 126-tooth gear having a number of drop-off points that is divisible in 504, and means for selectively connecting the indicating means to the cams.

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two rotatable counting gears respectively having 125 and 126 teeth, means for rotating the gears, means for indicating the completion of a count effected by either gear, a cam combination, a plurality of gears each having a diierent number of teeth, counting means, means for connecting the counting means to any of the gears for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth thereof, a second plurality of gears each having a different number of teeth, each gear of the second plurality of gears corresponding to one of the gears of the first-named plurality oi gears, and means for selectively cooperating the said any gear with its corresponding gear to vary the count.

7. A machine of the class described having, in

combination, a cutter, means forffeeding one orv more superposed webs to the cutter, means for actuating the cutter to cut the web or webs into a bundle of sheets at each operation of the out ter, means for feeding the bundles of sheets, nor mally ineffective means for indicating the feeding of a predetermined number of the sheets, a member operable through a cycle of operation once corresponding to a predetermined number of cuts bythe cutter, a plurality of normally ineffective members operable with the firstnamed member and each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the indicating means effective, and means for rendering the plurality of members selectively effective.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a cutter, means for feeding one or more superposed Webs to the cutter, means for actuating the cutter to cut the web or webs into a bundle of sheets at each operation oi" the cutter, means for stacking the sheets, normally ineiiective means for marking the stack, a member operable through a cycle of operations once corresponding to a predetermined number of cuts by the cutter, a plurality of normally ineffective members operable with the first-named member and each corresponding to a different number of lsheets in the bundle for rendering the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a predetermined numrotatable with the 125-tooth gear having 1, 2, 4,

5 or 10 drop-off points, a cam rotatable with the 126-tooth gear having 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 or 18 drop-oil points, andy means for selectively connecting the indicating means to the cams.

4. A machine of the class described' having, in combination, two rotatable counting gears respectively having 125 and l126 teeth, means for rotating the gears, means for indicating the completion of a count effected by either gear, a plurality of cams rotatable with the 125-tooth gear and respectively provided with drop-off points, a plurality, cams rotatable with the 126-tooth gear andy respectively provided with 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 18 drop-off points, and means for selectively connecting the indicating means to the cams. 'M

5. A machine oi the class describedhaving, in combination, a plurality of gears each having a different number of teeth, counting means controlled by any of the gears for effecting a count corresponding tov each tooth thereof, a second plurality of gears each having a different number of teeth, each gear of the second plurality of gears corresponding to one of the gears of the mst-named plurality of gears, and means for selectively cooperating corresponding gears of the pluralities of gears to vary the count.

6. A machine of the class described having, in

il, 2, 4, 5 and 10` ber of sheets in the stack, and means for rendering the plurality of members selectively effective.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having 125 teeth, means .for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teethfor every four operations of the operating means, and counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count cor responding to each tooth of the gear.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a rotatable gear having 126 teeth, means for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, and counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having 120 teeth, means for rotating the gear through an angle corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, and counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

gear to eifect a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, a second gear having a different number of teeth, means for disconnecting the first-named gear from the operating means, and means for connecting the second gear to the operating means to effect a count corresponding to each tooth of the second gear.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, two rotatable gears respectively having 125 and 126 teeth, means for connecting the gears to the operating means to rotate the gears from the operating means, counting means, means for selectively connecting the counting means to the gears to effect a count corresponding to each tooth of either gear, a gear having 120 teeth, means for disconnecting the 125-tooth gear and the 12S-tooth gear from the operating means, and means for connecting the 1Z0-tooth gear to the operating means to eiect a count corresponding to each tooth of the 12B-tooth gear.'

le. A machine of the class described having. in combination, two members respectively operable through different cycles in different numbers of steps, counting means selectively controlled by the members for effecting a count corresponding to each of the said steps, and means for controliing the counting means to count by numbers that are divisible in the said different numbers.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two members respectively operable through different cycles in different numbers of steps, counting means selectively controlled by the members for eecting a. count corresponding to each of the said steps, and a plurality of means for respectively controlling the counting means to count by numbers that are respectively divisible in the said different numbers.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two gears having different numbers of teeth, counting means selectively controlled by the gears for selectively effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the respective gears, and means for actuating the counting means to count by numbers that are divisible in the said different numbers.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, two gears having diiferent numbers of teeth, counting means selectively controlled by the gears for selectively effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the respective gears, two groups of cams respectively operable with the respective gears, and means controlled by the cams for respectively controlling the counting means to count by numbers that are respectively divisible in the said diiferent numbers.

18. A machine of the class described having. in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having a number of teeth equal to one-fourth the number of sheets in a ream, means for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, and counting means controlled by the gear for eifecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, means for stacking the sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a plurality of means operable from the operating means and selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a als assauts predetermined quantity of sheet material in th stack, and means for rendering the plurality of means selectively eifective during the operation of the machine.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a partial count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, means for controlling the counting means in cooperation with the control of the counting means by the gear to effect a partial multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, a cam rotatable with the gear having a number of drop-off points that is divisible in 125, and means controlled by the drop-off point or points for indicating the completion of a count by the counting means.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a counting gear, a gear for driving the counting gear through a space corresponding to one of the teeth of the counting gear for each operation of the driving gear through a space corresponding to cach tooth of the driving gear, means for driving the driving gear through s. space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, the ratio of the number of teeth of the counting gear to the number of teeth of the driving gear, multiplied by forty, being equal to the number of sheets in a ream, and counting means controlled by the counting gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the counting gear.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a counting gear, a gear for driving the counting gear through a space corresponding to one of the' teeth of the counting gear for each operation of the driving gear through a space corresponding to each tooth of the driving gear, means for driving the driving gear, the ratio of the number of teeth of the counting gear to the driving gear, multiplied by the number of operations of the operating means corresponding to one complete operation of the driving gear, being equal to the number of sheets in a ream, and counting means controlled by the counting gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the counting gear.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, normally ineii'ective means for indicating the feeding of a predetermined number of the sheets, a plurality of normally ineffective means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the indicating means effective, and means for rendering the plurality of means selectively effective during the operation of the machine.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, normally ineffective means for indicating the feeding of a predetermined number of the sheets, a plurality of normally ineffective ratchetless means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the indicating means effective, and means for rendering the plurality of means selectively effective during the operation of the machine.

. 25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, means for stacking the sheets, normally ineifective means for marking the stack,

assaut a plurality of normally ineiective means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the marking means effective, and means for rendering the plurality of means selectively effective during the operation oi' the machine.

26. A machine of the class described having,

in combination, a member, means for operating f the member, counting means, means for correlating operation of the member to a predetermined extent with a unit count of the counting means, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each operation of the member to the predetermlned extent, the controlling means comprising a plurality of means respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

2"?. A machine of the class-described. having, in combination, a member, means for operating the member, counting means, means for correlating operation of the member to a predetermined extent with a unit count oi the counting means, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each operation of the member to the predetermined extent, the controlling means comprisms a plurality of means operable with the member and respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

28. A machine of.' the class described having,

- in combination, a member, means for operating the member, counting means, means for correlating operation of the member to a predetermined extent with a unit count of the counting means, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each operation of the member to the predetermined extent, the controlling means comprising a plurality of cams respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member, means for operating the member, counting means, means for correlating operation of the member to a predetermined extent with a unit count of the counting means, and means for controlling the counting means to eiiect a multiple count corresponding to each operation of the member to the predetermined extent, the controlling means comprising a plurality of cams respectively provided with drop-off points equal in number to different-multiple counts.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a -unit count corresponding tov each step, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each step, the controlling means comprising a plurality of means respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

31. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a unit count corresponding to each step, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each step, the controlling means comprising a plurality of means operable step by step with the member, and respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a unit count corresponding to each step, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each step, the controlling means comprising a plurality of cams respectively corresponding to different multiple counts.

33. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a unit count corresponding to each step, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each step, the controlling means comprising a plurality of cams respectively provided with dropoff points equal in number to different multiple counts.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, counting means, means for correlating a feeding of single sheets with unit counts of the counting means, and a plurality of means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to effect a count at each feeding of a bundle of sheets corresponding to the number oi sheets in the bundle.

35. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, counting means, means for correlating a feeding of single sheets with unit counts of the counting means, and a plurality of cams each corresponding to a different number of sheetsln the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to effect a count at each feeding of a bundle of sheets corresponding to the number of sheets in the bundle.

36. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a unit count corresponding to each step, and a plurality of means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to eiect a count at each step corresponding to the number of sheets in the bundle.

37. A machine of the 'class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, a member operable step by step, counting means controlled by the member for effecting a unit count corresponding to each step, and a plurality of cams each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to effect a count at each step corresponding to the number of sheets in the bundle.

38. A machine of the class described having, in combination, operating means, a gear continuously operable from the operating means and having a predetermined number of teeth, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

39. A machine of the class described having, in combination, operating means, a gear having a predetermined number of teeth, means for connecting the gear to the operating means to effect operation of the gear from the operating means Whenever the operating nieans is operated, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth ofthe gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

40. A machine oi the class described having, in combination, a gear having a predetermined number of teeth, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, the controlling means comprising a plurality of means respectively corresponding to diiierent multiple counts.

41. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gear having a predetermined number of teeth, counting means controlled by the gear for eiiecting a count corresponding to each. tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, the controlling means comprising a plurality of cams operable with the gear and respectively corresponding to different'multiple counts.

42. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gear having 125 teeth, means for actuating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear for eiiecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for conl trolling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

43. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a gear having 126 teeth, means for actuating the gear, counting means controlled by the gea:` for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

44. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, the number of sheets in the bundles being variable, means for counting the sheets fed, normally ineffective means for indicating the counting by the counting means of a predetermined number of the sheets, a cam, means :for connecting the cam to the feeding means to effect operation of the cam from the feeding means whenever the feeding means is feeding the sheets, means controlled by the cam and operable without interrupting the operation of the feeding means to render the indicating means eective, and means for correcting the count to compensate `for any sheet or sheets fed that it is desired not to include in the count.

45. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets, means for counting the sheets fed, normally ineffective means for indicating the counting by the counting means of a predetermined number of the sheets, a cam, means for connecting the cam to the feeding means to effect operation of the cam from the feeding means Whenever the feeding means is feeding the sheets, means controlled by the cam and operable without interrupting the operation of the feeding means to render the indicating means effective, and means for disconnecting the cam from the feeding means at will to compensate for any sheet or sheets fed that it is desired not to include in the count.

46. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheet ma.- terial, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, means for rendering the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a predetermined quantity of the sheet material in the stack, and means for varying the predetermined quantity, and

means for operating the varying means during the operation oi the machine.

47. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a plurality of cams selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the-stack upon the completion of the stacking oi' a predetermined quantity of the sheet material in the stack and means for rendering the plurality of cams selectively effective during the operation oi' the machine.

48. A machine of the class described havingI in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, normally ineiiective means for indicating he feeding of a predetermined number of the sheets, a plurality of cams, means for rendering the cams selectively effective during the operation of the machine to render the indicating means eil'ective.

49. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheets, normally ineffective means for marking the stack upon the completion of the stacking of either of several predetermined numbers of the sheets, and a pluraltiy of means operable during the operation of the machine and selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of the respective predeterminedy numbers of the sheets.

50. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having 125 teeth, means for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth :for every four operations of the operating means, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

51. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a rotatable gear having 126 teeth, means for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

52. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having teeth, means for rotating the gear through an angle corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to effect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

53. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a gear having a number of teeth equal to one-fourth the number of sheets in a desired count, means for operating the gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, counting means controlled by the gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means for controlling the counting means to eiect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear.

54. A machine of the class described having,

`:nocaut in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a counting gear, a gear for driving the counting gear through a space correspond ing to one of the teeth of the counting gear for each operation of the driving gear through a space corresponding to each tooth of the driving gear, means for driving the driving gear through a space corresponding to one of its teeth for every four operations of the operating means, the ratio oi' the number oi' teeth of the counting gear to the number oi' teeth of the driving gear, multiplied by forty, being equal to the number of .sheets in` a ream. counting means controlled by the counting gear for effecting a count corresponding to each tooth of the counting gear, and means for controlling the counting means to eilect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear,

ii, A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material, a counting gear, a gear for driving 'ze counting gear through a space corresponding to one oi the teeth of the counting gear for each operation oi" the driving gear through a space corresponding to each tooth of the driving gear, means for driving the driving gear, the ratio oi the number ci teeth of the counting gear to the driving gear, multiplied by the number oi operations of the operating means corresponding to one complete operation of the driving gear, sbeing equal to the number cit sheets in a desired count, counting means controlled by the counting gear for effecting a count corresponding te each tooth of the counting gear, and means for controlling the counting means to eiiect a multiple count corresponding to each tooth ci the gear. r

56. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, normally ineffective means for indicating the feeding ci' a predetermined number oi the sheets, a member operable through a cycle corresponding to a predetermined number of feeding operations, and a plurality of means operable with the member and each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the indicating means ei'- fective.

57. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, means for stacking the sheets, normally lineffective means for marking the stack, a member continuously operable through a cycle corresponding to a predetermined number of feeding operations, and a plurality of means operable with the member and each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for rendering the marking means effective.

58. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheets in bundles, normally ineifective means for marking the stack, a member operable through a cycle of operations once corresponding to the stacking of a predetermined number of sheets when the sheets are stacked singly, and a plurality of means operable with the member and each corresponding to a different number oi sheets in the bundle for selectively rendering the marking means eifectlve to mark the stack upon the com pletion of the stacking of a .predetermined number of sheets in the stack.

59. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, normally inen'ective means for indicating the feeding of a predetermined number of sheets,

counting means, means for correlating a feeding oi' single sheets by the feeding means with unit counts of the counting means, a plurality of means each corresponding to a different number of sheets in the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to eilect a count at each feeding of a bundle of sheets corresponding to the number oi' sheets in the bundle. and means selectively controlled by the plurality of means for rendering the indicating means effective.

60. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for feeding sheets in bundles, means for stacking the sheets, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, counting means, means for correlating a feeding of single sheets by the feeding means with unit counts of the counting means, a plurality of means each corresponding to a diiierent number ofv sheets in the bundle for respectively controlling the counting means to eect a count at each feeding of a bundle of sheets corresponding to the number of sheets in the bundle, and means selectively controlled by the plurality of means for rendering the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a predetermined number of sheets in the stack.

6l. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheets :in bundles of a first predetermined number, means for stacking the sheets into groups of sheets each having a predetermined number of sheets, normally ineffective means for marking the stack upon the completion of the stacking of each group of sheets, a gear having a predeter- .mined number of teeth, means for operating the gear from the operating means through a space corresponding-to one of its teeth for every nurnber of operations of the operating means equal to the said number of sheets in a group of sheets l divided by the said number of teeth, and a plurality of means operable from the gear, one corresponding to each of different values of the first predetermined number and selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of each group of sheets.

62. A machine oi. the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of a rst predeterminednumber, normally ineiiective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, and a plurality of means, one corresponding to each of different values of the rstfpredetermined number, and selectively effective to render the indicating means effective to indicate the comple`l tion oi' the operation upon the said other predetermined number of the articles.

63.. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of a first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number oi' the articles, and a plurality of means, one corresponding to each of different values oi the first predetermined number, the plurality of means being continuously operable from the operating means and operable without interrupting the operation of the operating means to render the indicating means effective to indicate the completion of the operation upon the said other predetermined number of the articles.

64. A machine of the class described having, in

combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of e, first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the cornpletion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, and a pluralityA of cams, one corresponding to each of different values of the rirst predetermined number, and selectively effective to-render the indicating means effective to indicate the completion of the operation upon the said other predetermined number of the articles.

65. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of a first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, a plurality of cams, one corresponding to each of different values of the rst predetermined number, means for connecting the cams to the operating means to effect operation of the cams from the operating means whenever the operating means is operating, and means controlled by the cams for rendering the indicating means effectiveto indicate the completion of the operation upon the said other predetermined number of the articles.

66. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of a first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, a plurality of cams respectively provided with numbers of dropof points corresponding to different values of the rst predetermined number, and means selectively cooperative with the cams and controlled by the drop-off points for selectively rendering the indicating means effective to indicate the completion of the operation upon the said other predetermined number of the articles.

67. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups of a first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, a shaft, means :for rotating the shaft through a vpredetermined angle corresponding to each operation upon a group of the articles, a plurality of means rotating with the shaft, one corresponding to each of different values of the first predetermined number, and means selectively cooperative with the said plurality of means for selectively rendering the indicating means effective to indicate the completion of the operation of the said other predetermined number of articles.

68. A machinel of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon articles in groups oi a first predetermined number, normally ineffective means for indicating the completion of the operation upon another predetermined number of the articles, a shaft, means for rotating the shaft through a predetermined angle corresponding to each operation upon a group of the articles, a plurality of cams rotat-y ing with the shaft, one corresponding toeach of different values of the first predetermined number, and means selectively cooperative with the cams for selectively rendering the indicating means effective to indicate the completion of the operation of the said other predetermined number of articles.

69. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheets inl bundles of a first Ipredetermined number,

assaut means for stacking the sheets, normally ineffective means for marking the stack upon the corn-V pletion of the stacking of another predetermined number of the sheets, and a plurality of means, one corresponding to each of different values of the first predetermined number, and selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of the said other predetermined number of the sheets.

70. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheets in bundles of a first predetermined number, means for stacking the sheets, normally ineffective means for marking the stack upon the completion of the stacking of another predetermined number of the sheets, and a plurality of cams,

-one corresponding to each of different values of the first predetermined number, and selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of the said other predetermined number of the sheets.

71. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a cam for rendering the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a predetermined quantity of the sheet material in the stack, means for varying the predetermined quantity, and means for operating the varying means during the operation of the machine.

72. A machine of the class described having,

lin combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a yplurality of means selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of different predetermined quantities of sheet material in the stack, and means for rendering the plurality of means selectively effective during the operation of the machine.

73. A'machine of the class described having. in combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means vfor marking the stack, a plurality of cams selectively effective to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of different predetermined quantities of the sheet material in the stack, and means for rendering the plurality of cams selectively effective during the operation of the machine.

74. A machine of the class described having,

in combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a plurality of cams each having one or more drop-off points, a lever, means for maintaining the lever yieldingly in engagement selectively with the cams, means controlled by the lever when the level engages a. drop-off point lfor rendering the marking means effective to mark the stack, and means for rendering the Iplurality of cams selectively effective during the operation of the machine.

'15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for stacking sheet material, normally ineffective means for marking the stack, two means respectively effective'selectvely to render the marking means effective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of different predetermined quantities of sheet material in the stack, two means for respectively controlling the respective two first-named means, and means for rendering the first-named means selectively eiiective during the operation of the machine.

'16. A machine of the class described having. in combination, means for stacking sheet material. normally ineffective means for marking the stack, a nrst plurality oi means selectively effective to render the marking means eil'ective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a nrs't predetermined quantity of sheet material in the stack, a second plurality ,of means selectively effective to render the marking means eiective to mark the stack upon the completion of the stacking of a second predetermined quantity of sheet material in the stack, and means for respectively controlling the respective pluralities of means. 4

77. A machine oi' the character described having, in combination, means for counting reams having 500 sheets, means for varying the action ot the counting means to count reams having 504 sheets, and means for operating the varying means during the operation of the machine.

' 78. A machine of the character described having, in combination, means for counting reams having 500 sheets, means for varying the action ot the counting means to count reams having 480 sheets, and means i'or operating the varying means during the operation of the machine.

79. A machine oi the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material in bundles, the quantity oi' sheet material in the bundles operated upon being variable, means for counting the number of operations upon the sheet material, normally ineilective means for indicating the counting by the counting means of a predetermined number of the sheets, a cam, means for connecting the cam to the operating means to ei'l'ect operation of the cam from the operating means whenever the op- Y erating means is operating, means controlled by the cam for rendering the indicating means effective, and means for correcting the count to compensate for any operation or operations of the operating means that it is desired not to include in the count.

80. A machine of the class described having, in combination, means for operating upon sheet material. means for counting the number of operations upon the sheet material, normally ineffective means for indicating the counting by the counting means of a predetermined number 82. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a member operable through a predetermined cycle in a predetermined number oi' steps, counting means controlled by the member. each step of the member corresponding to a partial count, and a plurality of means for respectively controlling the counting means in cooperation with the control of the counting means by the member to count by numbers that are respectively divisible in the predetermined number.

83. lA machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having 125 teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each tooth of the gear corresponding to a partial count, a cam rotatable with the of! points that is divisible in 500, each position of the cam corresponding to a partial multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear, and means controlled by the drop-oil' point or points for controlling the counting means.

84. A machine oi' the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having 125 teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each ltooth of the gear corresponding to a partial count. a cam rotatable with the gear having 1, 2,.4, 5 or 10 drop-oil' points, and means controlled by the drop-cil point or points for controlling the counting means.

85. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having 125 teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each tooth of the gear corresponding to a partial count, a plurality of cams rotatable with the gear and respectively provided with 1, 2, 4, 5 and 10 drop-ofi points, and means controlled by the drop-ofi point or points for controlling the counting means.

86. A machine oi the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having 126 teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each tooth of the gear corresponding to a partial count, a cam rotatable with the gear having a number of dropor! points that is divisible in 504, each position of the cam corresponding to a partial multiple count corresponding to each tooth of the gear. and means controlled by the drop-oil' point or points for controlling the counting means.

of the sheets. a cam, means for connecting the cam to the operating means to eil'ect operation o! the cam from the operating means whenever the operating means is operating, means controlled by the cam for rendering the indicating means eiTective, and means for disconnecting the cam tromthe operating means at will to compensate for any operation or operations of the operating means that it is desired not to include in the count.

81. A machine oi the class described having, in combination, s, member operable through a predetermined cycle in a predetermined number ot steps, counting means controlled by the member, each step oi' the member corresponding to a partial count. and a plurality of cams for respectively controlling the counting means in cooperation with the control oi the counting means by the member to count by numbers that are respectiveLv divisible in the predetermined num- 87. A machine or the class described having. in combination, a rotatable gear having 126 teeth, means for rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each tooth oi' the gear-,corresponding to a partial count, `a cam rotatable with the gear having 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 or 18 drop-oil' points, and means controlled by the drop-on' point or points for controlling the counting means.

88. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a rotatable gear having 126 teeth, means tor rotating the gear, counting means controlled by the gear, each tooth of the gear corresponding to a partial count, a plurality oi' cams rotatable with the gear and respectively provided with 3, 8, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 18 drop-ofi' points, and means controlled by the drop-oi! point or points for controlling -the counting means.

LOUIS L. MATTHEWS.

gear having a number of drop? 

